Dual key clasp



J. 24, 1967 o. v. ANDERSON 3,299,679

DUAL KEY CLASP Filed Feb. 2-3, 1965 244 /A INVENTOR. 39A OLOF VERNER ANDERSON BY \ZMZLM Jw flm AT TOR N EY United States Patent 3,299,679 DUAL KEY CLASP Glof Verner Anderson, North Kingston, R.I., assignor to 'Anson, Inc., Providence, 11.1., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Feb. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 434,582 6 Claims. (Cl. 70459) This invention relates to dual key clasps and more particularly to key clasps which retain keys held on opposite ends of a casing; separable into a clasp and a casing having a loop lockable within said casing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a key clasp which holds keys on a U shaped leg in one end of a casing and other keys in a clasp which is removably securable within the other end of the casing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of jewelry in the form of a clasp and a loop, both held within the casing wherein keys are removably secured in both the loop and the clasp detachably locked within the casing.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an esthetically novel clasp of a new durable construction.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in part and in part pointed out in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the new and improved dual key clasp, with the casing and clasp separated.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the clasp locked within the casing.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2 with the clasp locked within the casing and with the loop locked by the clasp to the casing.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3. 7

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the clasp unlocked from the casing and with the loop unlocked from the casing.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the clasp and casing with the clasp removed from the casing.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 illustrating a modified form of clasp locked within the casing with the clasp locking a modified form of loop to the casing.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 illustrating the modified form of clasp and loop with the loop removably detached from the casing.

With reference to the drawings, reference character 11 generally designates a thin casing, tubular in form and slightly rectangular in shape, consisting of a top member 12, a bottom member 13, a right side member 14 and a left side member 15. A cavity with two open ends 8 and "ice 24 may be provided with an enlarged end or knob 85 to prevent the end of leg24 from having a sharp end.

U shaped pivotal leg or loop, generally indicated at 32, consists of a base element 33 and two opposite and parallel side elements 34, 35. Side element 35 is provided in one form with an integrally formed bearing 36. A pintel 37 fastened in top member 12 and bottom member 13 is housed in bearing 36 to thereby pivotally connect loop 32 to casing 11. Left side member 15 is cut back at 40 to provide a space for the pivotal movement of side element 35. Side element 34 is provided with a notch 41 and a tooth 42. Side member 14 is provided with loop projection 43 and saw tooth projection 44.

Pivotal loop 32 latches to casing 11 when tooth 42 engages loop projection 43. Notch 41 is adapted to accommodate the contour of loop projection 43 to permit freedom of action in the pivotal engagement and disengagement of tooth 42 with looap projection 43. Side element 34 is provided with the necessary resiliency to permit the latching and unlatching of tooth 42 with tooth projection 43. In this manner a loop area 45 is provided to accommodate a key or keys strung upon side element 34 and hung upon base element 33. (The keys are not shown.)

Locking insert 21 is passed through open end 8 to be housed in casing 11 and to be removably secured therein. When secured therein, locking insert 21 also secures or locks side element 34 in latched position.

With particular reference to FIGURE 3, wherein is illustrated locking insert 21 removably secured within casing 11; leg 24 yieldingly engages ear 16, seat 61A yieldingly engages saw tooth projection 44 and the side of leg '23 engages side element 34 adjacent tooth 42 and notch Legs 23 and 24 through base 25 and recess 26 are provided with resiliency so that they may be pressed together across recess 26 against the force of the resiliency.

To remove locking insert 21 from casing 11 a thumb is pressed against serrations 29 whereby saw tooth projection 61A is disengaged from saw tooth projection 44 and the thumb and fore-finger may grasp eyelet projection 23 to withdraw locking insert 21 from inside casing 11. In withdrawing locking insert 21 from casing 11 the end of leg 24 disengages side element 34. Side element 34 may then be pressed toward side element 35 to thereby disengage tooth 42 from tooth projection 43 and be pivoted around pintel 37 to open loop 45.

9 is thus formed in casing 11. Left side member 15 is I provided with an ear 16. The terms ear, notch, saw tooth or tooth retaining projections are used interchangeably herein.

Reference character 21, generally designates a locking insert which is housed within casing 11. Locking insert 21 consists of a fiat body, generally U shaped, having one leg 23 relatively wide with one leg 24 relatively narrow as a fork tine or spring prong. A base 25 unites legs 23, 24 at one end and a slot or recess 26 separates said legs 23, '24 for a major portion of their length. One tooth, or a plurality of saw teeth 60, 61 (as illustrated) are provided in the side of leg 23. The base of saw teeth 60, 61 form seats at 69A and 61A. A finger projection 28, provided with an eyelet 28A is preferably formed integral with leg 23 and may be provided with serrations 29. Leg

In the modified form, casing 11A is constructed exactly the same as casing 11 and may be identified, in FIG- URES 7 and 8, as bottom member 13A, right side member 14A and left side member 15A provided with ear 16A. Right side member 14A is provided with loop projection 43A and saw tooth projection 44A. Left side member 15A is provided with a loop :projection 43B.

Pivotal loop 32A consists of a base element 33A and two opposite and parallel side elements 34A and 35A. Side element 34A is provided with a notch 41A and a tooth 42A. Side element 35A is provided with a notch 41B and a tooth 42B.

Loop 32A latches to casing 11A when tooth 42A engages loop projection 43A and tooth 42B engages loop projection 43B. Notch 41A is adapted to accommodate the contour of loop projection 43A and notch 42B accommodates the contour of loop projection 433 to permit freedomof action in the resilient engagement and disengagement of teeth 42A, 42B with loop projections 43A, 43B, respectively. Loop 32A is provided with the necessary resiliency to permit the latching and unlatching of teeth 42A, 42B with tooth projections 43A, 43B.

Looking insert 21A is constructed in a modified form to locking insert 21 :and consists of a flat body having Patented Jan. 24, 1967 one leg 23A relatively wide when compared to a cooperating latching leg 24A which is relatively thin or narrow. A base 25A is connected to Wide leg 23A by means of an offset portion 75 Which is adapted in contour to engage the back of tooth 42A to thereby lock tooth 42A in engagement with loop projection 43A as viewed in FIG- URE 7. Similarly, base 25A is connected to thin leg 24A by means of an offset portion 76 which is adapted in contour to engage the back of tooth 42B when in tooth 42B locking position as viewed in FIGURE 7.

A slot or recess 26A separates Wide leg 23A from thin leg 24A and in this manner provides the necessary degree of resiliency to permit leg 24A to be pressed toward leg 23A. One tooth, or a plurality of saw teeth 77, 78

are provided in leg 23A. A finger projection 89 is provided with an eyelet 81 and serrations 82. Thin leg 24A may be provided with a knob 85A to blunt the end of leg 24A.

Thus it will be seen that teeth 42A, 42B in conjunction with loop projections 43A, 43B provide latch element means for removably holding loop 32A within casing 11A and with legs 24A and 23A providing the locking element means for the latch element means.

It will also be noted that legs 23, 24, 23A, 24A and opposite side elements 34, 35 and 34A, 35A are spaced apart a greater distance than the distance between the two side Walls 14, 15, 14A, 15A of the casing 11, 11A, respectively, when said legs and side elements are unrestrained by said side walls.

Having shown and described preferred embodiments of the present invention, by way of example, it should be realized that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A dual key clasp consisting of a casing, a locking insert and a pivotal loop, said casing comprising a top member, a bottom member, a right side member provided with :a loop projection and a saw tooth projection, a left side member provided with an ear and a cut back, forming a cavity with two open ends, said pivotal loop consisting of a base element and two opposite and parallel side elements, one side element having a bearing, the other 7 side element having a notch and a tooth, means pivotally connecting said bearing to said casing at one open end, whereby said tooth engages and disengages said loop projection through manual manipulation, a locking insert consisting of a flat body, generally U shaped, having one wide leg provided with a tooth, a narrower leg provided with a knob and a base uniting said wide leg with said narrower leg and with a slot separating said wide leg from said narrower leg, and a finger projection provided with an eyelet formed in said wide leg, said locking insert manually movable into and out of said cavity through the other of said open ends whereby said knob resiliently engages said ear, said tooth of said locking insert engages and disengages said saw tooth projecting, said narrower leg engages and disengages said bearing, and said Wide leg engages and disengages the side element having the notch whereby said tooth of said pivotal loop forms a locked latch with said loop projection.

2. A dual key clasp consisting of a casing, a locking insert and a pivotal loop, said casing forming a cavity with two open ends and comprising a top member, a bottom member and two side members, one of said side members having a loop projection and a saw tooth projection, said pivotal loop consisting of a base element and two opposite side elements, one side element having a bearing, the other of said two opposite side elements having one part of a latch, means pivotally connecting said bearing to said casing at one open end whereby said one part of a latch engages and disengages said loop projection forming the other part of a latch, a locking insert consisting of a body having two legs separated by means of a slot, said slot providing means for relative movement, between said legs, toward and away from each other, said locking insert slidable into and out of said cavity through the other of said two open ends, and means on said body to engage and disengage said saw tooth projection and one of said side members to releasably secure said locking insert within said cavity and to hold said one part of a latch in engagement with said loop projection.

3. A dual key clasp consisting of a casing, a locking insert, and a pivotal loop, said casing being of tubular form and defining a cavity having two open ends, said pivotal loop consisting of an element having a bearing on one end and a latch part of the other end, means pivotally connecting said bearing to said casing at one open end, and means on said casing for engagement and disengagement wit-h said latch part, a locking insert consisting of a body having two legs connected by a base, there being a slot to separate said two legs for relative movement therebetween, toward and away from each other, said locking insert slidable into and out of said cavity through the other of said two open ends, said body having releasable lock means for releasably retaining said body within said casing, said body releasably retaining said pivotal loop in latched position with said means on and within said casing through engagement with said latch part.

4. A dual clasp consisting of a casing, a locking insert, and a pivotal loop, said casing being of tubular form, rectangular in cross section, and defining a cavity having two, side walls and two open ends, said pivotal loop consisting of an element having two ends, a bearing on one end and a latch member on the other end, means pivotally connecting said bearing to said casing at one open end, and means on said casing for engagement and disengagement with said latch member to pivotally hold said latch member within said casing, a locking insert consisting of a body having two legs connected by a base of flexible material to aiford relative movement between said legs, said two legs each having a portion engageable and disengageable with said pivotal loop and each of said two legs having additional portions engageable with said two side Walls, respectively, one of said legs having at least one tooth, a projecting element extending into said cavity from one of said two side walls, said locking insert being slidable into and out of said cavity through the other of said two open ends, said projecting element being engageable with said tooth when said locking insert is positioned within said cavity to lock said locking insert and said pivotal loop in said casing, and releasing means for releasing said tooth from said projection to separate said locking insert from said casing and said latch member from said casing to release said pivotal loop from latch engagement from said casing.

5. A dual key clasp consisting of a casing, a locking insert and a loop, said casing being of tubular form and defining a cavity having two open ends, said loop having a latch element on one end, and a second latch element on the opposite end, means on said casing for removably holding said first mentioned latch element and said second latch element Within said casing through one open end, a locking insert consisting of a body having two legs connected :by a base, there being a slot to separate said two legs for relative movement therebetween said locking insert slidable into and out of said cavity through the other of said two open ends, said body having releasable locking means for releasably retaining said body within said casing, said body releasably retaining said loop in a latched position within said casing through releasable engagement with said first mentioned latch element and said second mentioned latch element to thereby hold said first mentioned latch element and said second mentioned latch element in contact with said means on said casing for removably holding said first mentioned latch element and said second latch element within said casing.

6. A dual key clasp consisting of a casing, a locking insert and a loop, said casing being of tubular form and defining a cavity having two open ends, latch element means between said loop and said casing to removably secure said loop within said casing through one of said two open ends, a locking insert consisting of a body having two legs connected to a base, there being a slot to separate said two legs for relative movement therebetween, said locking insert slidable into and out of said cavity through the other of said two open ends, said body having releasable locking means for releasably retaining said body within said casing, said body releasably engaging said loop in latched position Within said casing to assist said latch element means in retaining said loop within said casing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Lomas 70456 Hornich 70-459 Wolcott 24230 X Killion 70459 Hirsch 24230 Grassman 24-230 Kennison 24230 Jones.

Murray 70459 15 EDWARD c. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

6. A DUAL KEY CLASP CONSISTING OF A CASING, A LOCKING INSERT AND A LOOP, SAID CASING BEING OF TUBULAR FORM AND DEFINING A CAVITY HAVING TWO OPEN ENDS, LATCH ELEMENT MEANS BETWEEN SAID LOOP AND SAID CASING TO REMOVABLY SECURE SAID LOOP WITHIN SAID CASING THROUGH ONE OF SAID TWO OPEN ENDS, A LOCKING INSERT CONSISTING OF A BODY HAVING TWO LEGS CONNECTED TO A BASE, THERE BEING A SLOT TO SEPARATE SAID TWO LEGS FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, SAID LOCKING INSERT SLIDABLE INTO AND OUT OF SAID CAVITY THROUGH THE OTHER OF SAID TWO OPEN ENDS, SAID BODY HAVING RELEASABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING SAID BODY WITHIN SAID CASING, SAID BODY RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID LOOP IN LATCHED POSITION WITHIN SAID CASING TO ASSIST SAID LATCH ELEMENT MEANS IN RETAINING SAID LOOP WITHIN SAID CASING. 